USA's Brad Davis, left, hustles to keep Canada's Nik Ledgerwood from getting the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Tuesday, Jan. 29, in BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

USA's Brad Davis, left, hustles to keep Canada's Nik Ledgerwood...

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USA's Graham Zusi, bottom, is pushed down by Canada's Russell Teibert during the firsthalf of an international friendly soccer game, Tuesday, Jan. 29, in BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

USA's Graham Zusi, bottom, is pushed down by Canada's Russell...

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Jason Bordelon, center, of Baton Rouge, cheers as the US Mens Soccer team warms up for a international friendly soccer game against Canada, Tuesday, Jan. 29, in BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

For a little over three weeks, coach Jurgen Klinsmann repeatedly challenged the U.S. national team players to leave an impression, show some hunger and make a case for themselves.

Yet, it's tough to imagine anybody was impressed after the U.S. national team was held to a scoreless draw against Canada on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Even without their Europe-based stars, the Americans have improved enough for fans to expect to beat minnows such as Canada.

"I think we should. Yes," Klinsmann said. "I expect that, too. ... You are a little bit disappointed because you wish to kind of finish those 31/2 weeks in a very positive way. A goal or two changes that a bit."

Heading into the crucial final round of World Cup qualifying, Klinsmann used his January camp to evaluate some of his domestic-based talent to determine which ones he'll add to his Europe-based stars for the start of World Cup qualifying.

The camp concluded Tuesday night. But facing a B-type squad from a country that didn't even advance to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, the U.S. was surprisingly scoreless before a crowd of 11,737.

"Obviously not the result we wanted," Dynamo captain Brad Davis said. "We were a little tentative when we got around the 18 (yard box). I would have liked to try to create a few more things, get some shots on goal. I don't think we had a shot from outside the whole game.

"Those are things that are going to happen when you're with a group of guys that haven't been playing a whole lot together. That three weeks is a good three weeks. It was tough. Everybody put in a lot of hard work, but we definitely wanted to win this game. That's the bottom line."

Canada, which lost 4-0 on Saturday against a Denmark squad that didn't include any of its stars, sat back content to play a defensive match.

Local fans were at least rewarded with the chance to see Davis, who started. Moreover, forward Will Bruin, who led the Dynamo in scoring last season, earned his first cap with the U.S. team with an appearance off the bench. Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall, who participated in the camp, did not play.

Now Klinsmann must decide which players from the January camp earned spots on the roster he'll call up for the Feb. 6 World Cup qualifier against Honduras.

The first half was a bit lacking in creativity or excitement as the U.S. outshot Canada 7-1 with a 3-1 advantage on shots on goal and 3-0 edge on corner kicks.

In the 53rd minute, the left-footed Davis won a corner kick for the U.S. with a dangerous right-footed shot across the mouth of the goal, forcing Canadian goalkeeper Simon Thomas to parry the ball wide of the far post.

"Brad, I think he did well," Klinsmann said. "With a little bit of luck, he scores that goal. It would have been nice."

Two minutes later, former Dynamo star Dwayne De Rosario threatened the U.S. with a header that went just wide left of the goal.

The U.S. had another great opportunity in the 60th minute, but Eddie Johnson ripped his shot into the party deck.